Palomar Mountain News

Guessing many of you love snow just about as much as I do.  I’ve seen photos taken from off-mountain, and our snow looks sooooooo inviting.  If you are reading this from the Flatlands and planning on bringing your family up this weekend, chains are required.

It is very beautiful up here but if you can make it up during the week, you might enjoy it even more. Read More…

“Hello!”

Most of you probably no longer have an old fashioned phone, plugged in to the wall.  But for those of you who do, storms often bring phone static and outages.

My desk phone has been out for a week.  You might wonder what I did without a phone!  No problem.  AT&T offers “The Message Center” that makes it easy to roll calls to another number.  I rolled the calls to my cell (it works here now – Hooray!) and didn’t miss a beat. Some of you might appreciate that service that includes 3-way calling and other features.

When you do have phone issues, connect with AT&T at contact info below as soon as you can.  I was given a date two weeks out to get my phone working again, but – ta da!  It has dial tone a week early.  Thanks to our AT&T friends of Palomar.

AT&T Phone Company 800 310-2355 or www.att.com

Other options for phones on Palomar are VoIP phones that work through your internet.  Cell phones are working at more properties these days and include call-forwarding, 3-way calling and other features that I am quite certain I don’t even know about.

Just wanted to pass this info on as it may be helpful to some folks out there.  Glad to get questions answered anytime.

Bonnie Phelps – Yes, that is me over 6 decades ago!

From: Cecelia Borland

Everyone is invited to the February meeting of the PMFSC.  Held in the equipment bay of the Fire Station 79, 21610 Crestline Road.

This Saturday, February 23, 2019, 10 am

It is amazing how much more snow is on Crestline from the last storm!  Maybe 5 inches or so!  The berms along the road and in front of the driveways are pretty high.  It was great to see Joe out with the big loader.  He is working on moving the snow off the roads with that big bucket, into their easement.   His goal is to keep Crestline and Baileys with two lanes open.   Time will tell!

We had been teased with two feet of this white stuff.  I just added up the forecast and now we are down to closer to a foot. It has been snowy with sleet off and on, giving us only a dusting here on State Park Road.  Guessing Crestline and other areas might have even more if it behaves like the last storm.

What ever comes our way, we really appreciate around-the-clock dedication of our local crew and all who put in the extra hours during these storms. THANK YOU!

Let it Snow!

Bonnie Phelps

There are very happy Valentine/President’s Weekend guests enjoying the snow at vacation rentals ’round Palomar.  It is the absolutely best way to have snow fun on this mountain.  After sledding and hiking in this beautiful winter wonderland, it is always so nice to be able to go inside and get warm by the fire.

Palomar has a couple dozen vacation rentals to choose from. Read More…

Wouldn’t you love to know more of the history of this photo?  Given to me years ago by East-Grader, Bob Haas, it begs questions.

Do you see what I see?  Things can happen so fast.  Why wasn’t the lion shy of the photographer?  He appears to be eyeing his next dinner up by the house. Why was the photographer concerned about taking the photo when that lion could be to the toddler in seconds?

Several folks have seen this photo over the years.  Everyone thinks they know right where the cabin is on the mountain.  But, turning it over, the back tells us it was taken at Beaverhead Lodge about 1940 near Alpine, Arizona on Jess and Flora Burkes’ Ranch.

Just something interesting to share with you while cleaning out my desk in front of the fire.

Bonnie-on-Snow-Watch

There are many people that are Good Samaritans ’round Palomar.  This feel-good story just came from a neighbor.  I think many of you might know JP.

Many thanks to all the JP’s of Palomar.

From:  Fred Brown

“…Unfortunately I slipped on the ice and now I am incapacitated with a sore back.

Yesterday I decided to drive back up to get my mail and some other things.  Rain was so intense it was like driving under water!    On the way down south grade I hit a rock which blew my front tire. Tried to change it by the side of the road but was hopeless because of sore back and old age.
Second vehicle I tried to flag down stopped.  Driver not only changed the wheel, but he followed me down all the way to the Stage Stop at 20 MPH because spare tire was under-inflated and wanted to make sure I would make it.  Refused to be paid.  People like that are worth a million!  God bless him!

Said his name was JP, maybe you know him?

Regards
Fred Brown

This is the very first time I have ever seen snowflakes dancing all across the weather report.  NOAA is now teasing us with a chance of 8 to 17 inches of snow over the next few days.

The mountain just had 10 to 12+ inches of rain from the last storm – 12.6 on Birch Hill. (Thank you Will Parent!).  So, the grades have been closed several times because of downed trees, mud slides, huge boulders and rocks blocking the road.

We all have our stories… It took us 2 hours to get from the top of the mountain to Valentine Dinner in Pauma Valley last night – normally 30 minutes.  But, oh, so worth it!  🙂 Take care out there and remember your tire chains over the next few days.

For those of you just dreaming of a place of your own on Palomar, we have some to choose from now, and several more that will be coming your way real soon.

Meanwhile, the ‘Treasures’ of ours, oh, you know, our next door grandkids, are really looking forward to more sledding opportunities.  Hope you can come join us real soon!

Bonnie Phelps … stoking the fire

From: Cecelia Borland, Fire Safe Council

The Palomar Mountain Fire Safe Council has money for free chipping.

After this snow melts, you are invited to prepare piles for chipping.  All cut ends need to face the road or an area easily accessible to the chipper.

Please call Robert Carlyle 760 742-1891 when your piles are ready.  When there are enough piles on the mountain for a full days work for the chipper, Robert will arrange and you will be notified as to the date.

Free chipping while the funds allow.

Stuck in the snow?  Does your vehicle have floor mats?  They are magic!

When we were promised 18+ inches of snow, our son parked his Prius in our driveway.  Only three inches of snow arrived at our place.  He walked down to get his car.  Shouldn’t have been a problem at all to get out.  However, several days with temps in the 20s had those tires frozen solid.  He chipped, dug and shoveled and we just couldn’t get the car to budge.  I was going to back in my car to tow when I remembered about Magic Carpets!

These are some old rugs I keep to protect the back of my car when hauling firewood for those cute grandkid’s Woodpecker Firewood Business.  We tucked those rugs under the tires and backed right out until we hit another patch of that icy snow.  Moved the Magic Carpets again and got right out.

I’m guessing most of you have floor mats in your vehicle?  This time of year, it is always a good idea to have a shovel with you, too. A shovel, plus magic carpets could just save the day!

Bonnie Phelps, just lovin’ this snow!

PS – There’s no business like snow business … for seeing property on Palomar!